Canadian Province Of Alberta To Vote On Possible Secession

SAN JOSE (California), May 23 (Bernama-dpa) -- Residents of the oil-rich province of Alberta will decide in a referendum on a possible path toward secession from Canada, a move repeatedly demanded by a minority, German Press Agency (dpa) reported. 

The vote is scheduled for October 19, Premier Danielle Smith announced in a televised address on Friday. 

Smith said that the question asked to Albertans will be "Should Alberta remain a province of Canada or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?"

The premier said: "I want to be clear. I support Alberta remaining in Canada. That is how I would vote on separation in a provincial referendum."

The province, with approximately five million inhabitants, is located in western Canada and is particularly popular with tourists for its national parks in the Canadian Rockies – which also extend into British Columbia. 

A movement advocating for secession from Canada, citing cultural and economic reasons, has existed for some time in the province, which is considered very conservative. According to polls, this group still represents a minority. 

The movement has already received support from the United States (US) government under President Donald Trump. Smith, along with both major political parties in the country and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, have clearly spoken out against secession.

-- BERNAMA-dpa